The Club Insider Archives: May 2024
Steve Strickland and John Quattrocchi
Celebrating 25 Years at Workout Anytime!
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesLong-time friends of mine, Steve Strickland and John Quattrocchi, Co-Founders of Workout Anytime, are two of the most experienced and talented people in the health and fitness club industry. On the night of April 26th, Steve and John celebrated Workout Anytime's 25th Anniversary, hosting what turned out to be a truly spectacular celebration at the beautiful Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center in the North Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. This was a very special and extremely well-done event, one of the finest I've ever attended in my 50 years of involvement in the health and fitness club industry. But, I would expect nothing less from these two industry veterans and their great company.
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"Insider Speaks"
Bad Health Club Signs
By: Mike Manning
Mike ManningRecently, this sign caught my eye at a club and struck me as a combination of arrogant, paternalistic and lazy. Signing up and retaining members is the lifeblood of the business. Why would an operator be so cavalier about potentially running off members? Business must be very good indeed. The following are examples of how I imagine the club responding to member questions about this change.
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Play by the Rules, But Be Ferocious
How to Conquer the Gym Industry
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasThe gym industry is a competitive jungle. There are established chains, boutique studios and a sea of independent gyms fighting for the same turf. Survival, let alone dominance, requires a winning mentality. Here's the secret: Embrace the paradoxical approach of playing by the rules while being ferocious.
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Why Boosting Club Membership is About Medical, not Marketing
By: Cosmo Wollan
Cosmo WollanApproximately 73 million adults in the U.S. have a gym membership. It sounds like a lot, but the sad reality is that's only 24% of the population. Baby boomers alone make up over 21% of the population. According to ACSM's Worldwide Surveys of Fitness Trends for 2024, the #3 top trend is: "Fitness Programs for Older Adults." It's no secret that people are living longer, working longer, and most importantly, wanting to stay active longer.
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"O Say Can You See"
Here is What is Going on in America...
By: Peter Moore
Peter MooreOur firm, Integrity Square, is a leading advisory firm focused on mergers and acquisitions in North America. Here are the current trends and Top Five list from our perspective...
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From Sweat to Serenity
The Fusion of Fitness and Recovery Was Trending at ISPA 2024
By: Nancy Trent
Nancy TrentThe convergence of fitness and recovery has become a cornerstone of wellness culture, and the International Spa Association (ISPA) 2024 convention in Phoenix showcased the latest innovations driving this evolution. The fitness and recovery category has undergone a profound transformation, propelled by technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. Within this dynamic ecosystem, these brands play a pivotal role in the future of gyms, not only in offering products and services but also in driving trends and shaping cultural perceptions of health, fitness and recovery.
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Member Onboarding:
Welcoming or Overwhelming?
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonImagine you walk into a clothing store. You are greeted "Hi. Welcome in. Is there anything we can help you find?" Your reflex response, "No, just looking, thanks." Most people have this same response, even if they do, in fact, need help. But, what if, when you walk in, instead of simply being greeted, you are invited (required, actually) to sit down and discuss your wardrobe and fashion goals? Whisked off on a full store tour then to a special desk and asked questions about your past clothes-buying experiences, your current wardrobe situation and your personal style preferences. They weigh you, take measurements and do a full body scan to customize their recommendations and give you the "most important" stats. It's an overwhelming thought and one that might just keep you from ever walking into the store at all.
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Crunch Fitness Appoints John Kersh as Managing Director of International Development
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness, a leading high-value, low-price gym, announces the appointment of John Kersh as the company's Managing Director of International Development. The addition comes as Crunch Fitness emphasizes global expansion, and Kersh will be integral to opening more Crunch gyms across the globe.
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Active Wellness Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Building Healthier Communities
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Active Wellness, a leading fitness design and management services company, also known as The Healthy Life Company, proudly announces its 10th anniversary milestone. For the past decade, Active Wellness has been dedicated to transforming lives, building healthier communities and inspiring healthy lifestyle change, alongside its partners and with the support of a dedicated team.
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Augie's Quest Partners with ALTA Technology Group and The Fitness Technology Summit to End ALS
LAS VEGAS, NV - In recognition of ALS Awareness Month, Augie's Quest, ALTA Technology Group and The Fitness Technology Summit are announcing the Augie's Quest BASH to Fight to End ALS on October 22, 2024.
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Health & Fitness Association Fly-In and Advocacy Summit Yields 130 Congressional Meetings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - One hundred twenty industry leaders participated in this year's Health & Fitness Association Fly-In and Advocacy Summit, May 7 - 8 in Washington, D.C., doubling last year's attendance, according to the Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA), a global community of industry leaders.
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Zeamo Partners with Healthy Contributions to Offer Anytime Fitness Clubs in the United States
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Zeamo, a corporate wellness technology platform for HR managers and business owners to manage employee fitness benefits, and Healthy Contributions, a provider of wellness programs for small-to-mid-sized businesses, health insurance providers, benefit networks and more, have teamed up to offer Anytime Fitness memberships at participating U.S. locations to Zeamo's growing corporate client base.
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Norm's Notes for May 2024
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 365th monthly edition of this 31+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club business news, so please read on!
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